Crowds surge to Swan River for fireworks

About 300,000 people are expected to attend Perth's Skyworks display on the Swan River to celebrate Australia Day, up 50,000 from last year thanks to milder weather.

The city has enjoyed a 36C degree maximum, compared to 2012's sweltering 41C.

So far, the gathering throng has largely abided alcohol restrictions aimed at curbing antisocial behaviour, but police expect to impose some $200 fines before the event draws to a close.

At another popular destination, the port city of Fremantle, some 500 people have gathered for one of Western Australia's biggest citizenship ceremonies.

They were among the state's more than 2500 new citizens, hailing from 92 countries, to take the pledge on Saturday.

More than 80 citizenship ceremonies were held around the state, ranging from single-person ceremonies in country towns like Ravensthorpe, to the welcoming of 700 new citizens at Wanneroo - the second largest such event in the country.

One of the new Australians, Italy-born mother-of-one Cecilia Crespi, said she liked Australia's strong community feeling, egalitarian ideals and life-improving opportunities.

Briton Cathy Clayton, who moved to Perth with her policeman husband and teenage daughter, said she loved living in a house with a swimming pool that was close to the beach.

"My heart is truly embedded in the Australian way of life," she said.

Deputy leader of the opposition, Julie Bishop, told a citizenship ceremony in Perth's western suburbs that Australians were fortunate to live in an exciting and dynamic place.

"We enjoy a level of freedom based on our values and our beliefs that others around the world can only dream about," Ms Bishop said.

"We have a modern, dynamic economy that allows us the opportunity to have a standard of living that is amongst the highest in the world."

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